About Windrider Bay Area

What is the Windrider Virtual Film Forum?

Independent Films. Compelling Conversations.
Unexpected Journeys.

The Windrider Forum was launched in 2005 as a small class at the Sundance Film Festival to bring together filmmakers and film lovers in an immersive educational experience designed to facilitate thoughtful conversation, awaken compassion, and inspire change. Since 2010, Windrider Bay Area has hosted an annual Film Forum to screen important independent films which explore challenging issues in our world, followed by in-depth, moderated discussions with the filmmaker.

All Bay Area residents are being asked to do their part to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Since it is not likely that restrictions for large public events will be lifted soon, we have made the decision to host the first-ever virtual Windrider Bay Area, Film Forum.

This entirely virtual event will begin at the end of June with a showcase of three short films along with a moderated discussion with the filmmakers. We will follow that showcase with a series of seven weekly Saturday night screenings of a short film and conversation with the filmmaker. Our goal is to continue our annual tradition of bringing these films and filmmakers to our engaged audience to serve as a catalyst for compassionate understanding and challenge us to make a difference in the world and in our local communities.

During this pandemic we have gained a deeper appreciation for the life-giving services of “essential workers” in our communities. Artists provide a different kind of “essential” service. Each year, Windrider Bay Area brings you films and filmmakers who want to inspire us with their stories and show that there are ways to find solutions to even the most difficult problems. Artists reveal our shared humanity, heal our deepest wounds, and help our hearts to soar. The “Lens of Hope” offered by these artists might be needed now more than ever.

Windrider Bay Area celebrates the essential artists in our lives as they inspire us to find solutions to our problems through the “Lens of Hope”. Please lend your support for our first-ever virtual film forum.